Thursday, 30 May 2013

More than one in five retail stores will close by 2018; so forecasts the latest report by theCentre for Retail Research. As 2018 is only 5 years away, retailers really need to act NOW to make certain they don’t become part of this grim statistic.

There’s no doubting that trade is already tough out on the High Street, so all retailers need to be making full use of every single potential sales channel available to them. Interestingly, that same report by the Centre for Retail Research predicts that online custom will almost double its market share in the equivalent period ­- from 12.7% in 2012 to 21.5% in 2018. Surely, therefore, those retailers with NO online/mail order presence, NO home delivery service and NO alternative ways of reaching consumers will be most at risk of failure?

You might have a great store with wonderful products, but do you have enough customers? Do you feel left behind, and worried that you could become one of the ill-fated fifth in the next few years? Suspect that you could be doing more to safeguard your future, but don’t really know how to go about it? Would you like to pinpoint what could be done to unleash the true capability of your business?

A commercially-astute, experienced direct marketing expert like Laurence White could give you an impartial view of what you might be missing… what you might be able to achieve... new ideas to help maximise your sales. And it won’t cost you anything to find out more. An initial, informal discussion with Laurence White is free of charge and without any future obligation. There’s no reason to wait any longer. Please contact Laurence today!

Wednesday, 29 May 2013

My hourly rate might be higher than you would pay to an employee, but you probably won't need me for very long! You don’t have to pay me for doing nothing… when the work’s done, I’m gone! And you don't have to give me holidays or sick pay, or pay tax, NI or pension contributions for me!

You won't find many employees with my depth of knowledge. I know about home shopping. I have spent more than 35 years working in multi-channel marketing. My experience isn't 'theoretical' either... my hands are well and truly dirtied by working for REAL commercial enterprises, under REAL commercial pressures.

Can I help you? Why not tell me your needs or concerns? I don't charge for my initial consultation and from that you will receive a FREE summary of my recommendations. If I don't think I can help you I'll say so. And if I think I can help you, I will tell you how and give you a quotation for my services.

I always endeavour to identify improvements and/or savings that will more than cover my fee. Even so, my pricing is transparent; hence you should easily be able to judge how my costs compare to alternative solutions. It won't cost you a penny to find out, so don't wait a day longer, please contact me today, in confidence, and put me to the test!

Monday, 28 January 2013

This is a question that I’ve been repeatedly asked during my time in the direct marketing industry. People say to me “Is there a hidden secret to finding and choosing winning products… winning promotions… winning ideas... winning services?” Maybe there is, although I haven’t managed to find it yet. But then I’ve only been in the business for 40 years!

So, if there’s no ‘magic method’, could there be a way for you to improve your current selection technique? Well, that really depends on how good you are already. I don’t want to boast here, except I do know is that my success rate at picking winners is better than many. I follow a formula that I’ve developed over the course of time. It’s not infallible, but it seems to have served me rather well through the years. Here’s my little reminder rhyme:

A lot of science

A lot of art

Use your head

Ignore your heart

Oh, and there’s one more vitally important factor (sorry, but it doesn’t rhyme!) that I always take into consideration when originating new ideas! In fact it’s the most important factor of all and, in my experience, one of the most ignored.

How do you pick your winners? Do you have a controlled system or are you impulsive? Are you happy with the results? If you feel there might be room for improvement, why not contactLaurence White for an initial, friendly, confidential chat? It will cost you absolutely nothing, yet it could transform the way you think! Contact me today to find out more.

Saturday, 19 January 2013

Your
campaign has finished and the results are in. Hopefully you're now patting
yourself on the back for a good job well done. But could it have been a good
job done even better? Little things can make a difference. Little things that
are often overlooked, or considered inconsequential. In fact several of these
'little things' combined can sometimes make a significant difference to the
overall outcome.

So,
whether your latest direct marketing sales drive has made you jump for joy or
tear your hair out, a pre-campaign forensic analysis next time could help you
to outshine. It could uncover effective enhancements that will have a positive
impact on your customers and your profit... small fine-tunes that will maximise
your sales and increase your response rate. Even a post-campaign review can detect
valuable improvements that could pay real dividends in the future.

You
might be amazed just how cost-effective 'Morensics' can be. The initial outlay
is surprisingly modest. And, in most cases, the cost is rapidly amortised by
the uplift in earnings. So, if you’d like a FREE, confidential, informal chat
to discuss possible options, please contact Laurence White. There’s absolutely no
obligation and, if I don't think I can improve your current offering, I promise
I will say so. Please contact me today to find out more.

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Have you thought about growing your business by expanding into new markets? You probably have. Most companies think about it, and have the potential to do it, but then current day-to-day operations and time constraints get in the way of planning and implementation.

Perhaps you have existing products or brands that would have instant appeal to an entirely new client base? Existing customers who would be highly receptive to new product ideas, services and promotional offers? Or you’re a business-to-business vendor who could also be selling direct to the consumer? Or a retailer, easily capable of developing a wholesale division? Possibly a UK-based operation with untapped overseas markets, ready and waiting to be exploited? Or maybe you’d simply like to know more about the opportunities that might be open to you?

Naturally, there are always budgetary considerations, but if the main factor holding you back is a lack of time and resources, why not consider outsourcing the task? A knowledgeable consultant, with the necessary relevant experience, could carry out the groundwork - even set up the entire venture - cost-effectively and efficiently, allowing you to concentrate on your own priorities.

If you’d like to discover more, an initial, confidential, informal discussion with Laurence White will cost you absolutely nothing! And there’s no future obligation either, so please don’t wait - contact me today!

Archive

Laurence White

About Me

I am the owner of Catalogue & Mail Order Services. I aim to provide cost-effective, profit-enhancing consultancy to all kinds of home shopping, direct marketing, mail order, e-commerce, multi-channel and distance selling companies. See my website for more details of how I could help you!